ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
Although ADHD affects men and women equally throughout adulthood, it often goes undiagnosed in females. This could be due to gender stereotyping and the capacity of females to conceal their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals do not have the expertise or experience needed to detect ADHD among women. This means that many females are misdiagnosed before receiving the treatment they require.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women with ADHD are often plagued by disorganization. This disorder is challenging to manage. Your desk, for instance, may be a mess of papers, 17 different chapsticks and a ticket from the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. And while you spend money on products that promise to aid in your organization your office and home may still be messy and chaotic.
Inability to keep track of your responsibilities can lead to missed deadlines and missed appointments. stay with me may also experience "time blindness," where you don't recall or know how long it takes to complete a task. This can cause you to feel frustrated and like you aren't doing a good enough job in your profession or in your personal life.
You might also have trouble regulating your emotions, which could cause you to react too quickly in stressful situations. Your rapid verbal communication may result in miscommunications and misunderstandings with your loved ones and colleagues, and you may make comments that hurt feelings of others without a thought. In addition, since impulsivity is common in people with ADHD, you might be unable to stop yourself from making comments without thinking them through.
If you have ADHD it is possible that some of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes or ideas about how men, women, and boys should behave. This could make it difficult for you to recognize and treat your ADHD.
You may also benefit from behavioral treatment to address the root causes of your disorder. While it could take some time to identify the right coping mechanisms using these strategies, they can help you feel more in control of your life and improve relationships with family and friends as well as coworkers.
2. Impulsivity
People who suffer from ADHD are prone to intense emotions. However, their brains are not capable of filtering them or assess them. This means they may be overwhelmed by one setback or find it hard to accurately assess the emotional state of other people. This makes them more prone to being distracted by minor issues such as an out of stock book or a shaky friend.
Many women with ADHD mask their symptoms and develop strategies to cope with their attention problems. They could be highly organized or a perfectionist at school or work and struggle to keep on top of appointments or bills, as well as important dates. They might struggle with self-talk control and talk excessively or interrupt others often.
The hyperactive/impulsive subtype of ADHD tends to be more common in boys and men, but it's not unusual for women to have these symptoms too. The symptoms include a sudden desire to stop, start or change activities; being unable to wait your turn in a conversation; and difficulty in interpreting social cues (like facial expressions or body language).
While gender stereotypes can have an influence on the development of ADHD in women, it is difficult to recognize these issues. Rating scales used to identify ADHD symptoms are still skewed towards male behavior, and some healthcare experts may be misinformed or underestimate a woman's symptoms.
Many women suffering from ADHD also note that their symptoms tend to become more severe during periods of hormonal changes, such as during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or perimenopausal (the run-up to menopause). This can trigger emotional symptoms like frustration or irritability as well as depression. They might also experience an ongoing feeling of dissatisfaction in their lives or relationships. This could cause self-esteem issues, substance abuse or unbalanced coping strategies. This is why it's important for women to understand that these signs aren't a reflection of their value or worth as an individual. With a good treatment plan, you can improve or even eliminate these signs.
3. Attention!
Everyone has difficulty paying attention and focusing, with ADHD, these symptoms occur in such a way that they can interfere with your daily life. You could make a few blunders at work or school, forget appointments or spend many hours putting off work. You have a hard time waiting your turn in conversations and are often interrupted by others.
Inattentive symptoms in adults can be accompanied by the tendency to get involved in projects without thoroughly planning and researching them, which leads to poor or insufficient results. You could also get easily distracted and leave projects unfinished. This could be a vegetable garden that was planted, but not watered, or a new system of organization that you built and then put away on your nightstand for it to rot.
signs and symptoms of adhd in women who have inattention ADHD also struggle with a constant sense of disorganization, both in their workplaces and at home. You might have trouble finding important documents keys, bills or even keys and misplace things on a regular basis. You may be unable to keep your track of time and become late for school, work or for meetings.
Women with hyperactive/impulsive ADHD are less likely to experience these inattentive symptoms, but they can still have problems with organization, time management and self-control. Women with these symptoms can say or do things without considering the impact. For example they might talk over others or make a lot of nonsensical noises when they are alone. They may have trouble sitting still and can be prone to fumbling around or pacing in their seats. They might have issues maintaining a job and might have frequent conflicts with coworkers and managers.
In certain instances, mood swings or emotional stress caused by ADHD can lead to frustration in relationships and misunderstandings. This is especially the case when it comes to romantic relationships and at work. People with ADHD also have a higher likelihood of being afflicted with comorbid conditions, such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder.
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD may face many difficulties when seeking treatment. These include gender bias as well as a tendency to cover up symptoms or underestimate their severity, and gender bias. High-profile women such as Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman who have spoken out about their struggles with ADHD have contributed to raising awareness. But, many young women and girls don't know they have it.
4. Anxiety
Although most people experience anxiety or anxious from time to time, persistently outsize anxiety is a sign of an anxiety disorder. You may feel a constant sense of unease, fear, or anxiety and also rapid pulse, difficulty maintaining calm, and having trouble thinking clearly. There is also a sense of danger in situations you know aren't risky. The most frequent kinds of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, phobias and agoraphobia, separation anxiety, panic disorders and selective mutism.
Anxiety is more prevalent in women suffering from ADHD than men, and it tends to worsen at certain times in women's lives like the time of her menstrual period or pregnancy, or perimenopausal. This can make it harder to manage everyday tasks and social interactions, and cause feelings of low self-esteem and general dissatisfaction with your life.
You're very sensitive to rejection and have a tough to accept criticism. You are prone to misinterpret feedback, or even anticipate rejection. You might be upset over small issues that others don't see an issue with.
Mood swings may also be a sign of adult adhd in women. You may find that you are prone to having unpredictable moods or find it difficult to control these. You may also be prone non-suicidal acts of self-injury such as burning, scrubbing, or hitting yourself.
If you're struggling with any of the above symptoms, it's important to receive a diagnosis. It will help you comprehend some of the challenges you're facing, and give you strategies to improve your quality of life. You can take an online ADHD test, or go to your doctor for a professional evaluation. In some instances, your doctor might prescribe medication to help alleviate your symptoms. In other cases they may recommend a combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In any case, it's essential to make positive changes as soon as you can. This will allow you to get back in control of your life and feel more confident, productive and competent.